Lifter for pie plates, baking dishes, etc.



17, 1935. J; J. ETGES I 4,

LIF'IjER FOR PIE PLATES, BAKING DISHES, ETC' Filed Sept. 12, 1954 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 P I JI [OZ I IQSIII fig 20 imhaui fl w 9 Dec. 17, 1935. J. J. ETGES 2,024,346

LIFTER FOR PIE PLATES, BAKING DISHES, ETC I Filed Sept. 12, 1954 SShegts-Shee 2 IZP.

. Q P 7 M J5 I I J. J. ETGES 2,024,346

LIFTER FOR PIEPLATES, BAKING DISHES, ETC

Dec. 17, 1935.

Filed Sept. 12, 1934 3 Sheets-Shed 5 I idem,

flza/ffgres Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNETED STATS PATENT oFF eE LIFTER FOR PIE PLATES, BAKING DISHES, ETC.

My invention relates to lifters for pie plates, baking dishes and other similar horizontally flanged or rimmed circular receptacles.

Among the features of my invention are:

The elimination of the necessity of moving any parts in the application of the lifter to the plate (or if the lifter is of an adjustable type, elimination of the necessity of moving any parts after the lifter is adjusted for the given diameter of plate), whereas previous lifters have required operation of moving parts or the spreading or distortion of parts to enable the lifter to engage the plate;

A simple manner of using the lifter which involves merely a horizontal movement of the lifter into position to engage the plate flange or rim and a slight tilting of the lifter in carrying the plate sufficient to prevent the plate accidentally working out of safe engagement by the lifter;

Avoiding contact of any part of the lifter with the top side of the flange or rim which might otherwise come in contact with the contents of the plate such as the overlapping margin of a pie crust for example;

A high clearance above the entire area of the plate, which lessens danger of the handle, the lifter frame or the users fingers coming into contact with the contents;

A loose but firm engagement of the plate by the lifter, as distinguished from the clamping action of many previous lifters in engaging the plate;

The application of the lifter without requiring insertion of any part beneath the bottom of the plate, which may be resting on a flat supporting surface, and without any tendency to slide the plate in effecting the application; and

Adaptability to plates of different diameters, in which connection, in addition to a primary form intended chiefly for plates of given diameter, I have shown a second form where the plate engaging parts may be extended or contracted to engage plates of different diameters, and also a third form adapted to lifting plates of different diameters which does not require any moving or adjustable parts.

The foregoing, together with further objects, features and advantages of my invention, are set forth in the following description of specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. l is a perspective view of the primary form of my invention and illustrates its application to the plate to be lifted;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lifter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the lifter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the second form of my invention where the lifter is adjustable to take different sizes of plates; 5

Fig. 5 is a front end elevation of the lifter of Fig. 4 taken on the line of 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the adjusting mechanism taken on the line B6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the adjusting 10 mechanism taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a plan section of the adjusting mechanism taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a detail plan section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5 and showing the lost motion at- 15 tachment of the plate engaging element with the depending support;

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section taken on line iiilll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the third form, as 20 above mentioned, of my invention adapted to lift plates of different diameters without requiring adjustment of the parts; and

Fig. 12 is a front end elevation of the lifter of Fig. l0.

Referring to the forms of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the plate-lifter in general comprises plate engag- 7 ing portions l5, depending legs I6 for supporting the latter, an upper frame I1 and a handle l8. As here shown, the plate-lifter, except for the 30 handle, may be formed from wire stock. Theplate engaging portions I5 are adapted to underlie the marginal rim or flange IQ of the plate P and engage the underside of the flange near the inclined side wall 26 of the plate. The plate 35 engaging portions 55 are preferably arcuate or curved to taper toward the rear or handle end of the lifter, the forward ends of the portions I5 being spaced apart by a distance greater than the diameter of the side wall 29 were it joins the 0 rim 59, while the rearward ends of the portions l5 are spaced apart by a distance somewhat less than this diameter. The rearward ends of the portions l5 thus constitute stops limiting the forward movement of the lifter relative to the plate; The ends of the portions !5 are joined to the legs it by -more or less radially disposed horizontal offsets 2!. The forward offsets 2| extend outwardly far enough to space the forward legs l6 farther apart than the overall diameter of the flange l9 so that the lifter can be applied by a forward motion whereby the forward legs l6 pass forwardly beyond the maximum diameter of therim.

The rearward offsets 2| preferably are of such the application or use of the lifter.

radial length that they space the rearward legs l6 by a distance a little less than the overall diameter of the rim H). The rearward legs l6 thus also act as stops to limit the forward movement of the lifter relative to the plate. While I have disclosed this stop function as performed both by the rearward legs l6 and the rearward ends of the portions l5, it is not necessary that both perform this function, but the limiting may be done by either alone. The stops are preferably so arranged that when the lifter is applied to the maximum forward position relative to the plate, the plate engaging portions IE will extend approximately equidistant forwardly and rearwardly of the transverse diameter of the plate, so that the plate is adequately supported against tilting either forwardly or backwardly about the portions l5 as fulcrums when the plate is suspended by the lifter.

The upper frame H. which connects the legs IS with the handle l8, as here shown, comprises forward transverse members 22, rearward transverse members 23 and longitudinal members 24 connecting the central ends of the members 22 with the handle, the handle extending rearwardly from the central ends of the members23.

Where, as illustrated, the lifter is formed from wire stock, the entire lifter, except for the handle, may be conveniently formed from only two lengths of wire, one length forming the righthand half and the other forming the left-hand half. The four wire ends may be inserted as shanks into the handle.

The operation of the plate-lifter of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in lifting a pie plate with its contents to remove it from an oven would be as follows:

With the lifter held with the handle horizontal the lifter is moved horizontally and forwardly in the direction of the handle with plate engaging portions l5 in a plane intermediate the oven shelf and the flange is of the pie plate and preferably immediately beneath the flange; the legs l6 contacting the rearward half of the annular rim are guided to position. The lifter is limited in its forward movement relative to the -pie plate by the stop function of either the rearward legs I6 or the rearward ends of the plate engaging portions [5, or both. Upward movement of the handle then engages the portions IS on the under-' side of the rim I9, whereupon the plate is lifted from the shelf. To avoid danger of the plate accidentally moving forward relative to the lifter where it could tilt forwardly about the front end of the portions Hi, the operator tilts the front end of the lifter up slightly so that under gravity the plate tends to maintain an engagement with either or both of the previously mentioned stops. It will be observed that the legs [6, which constitute risers, are sufficiently high to keep the upper frame H, the handle, and the operators fingers out of contact with the contents of the plate. No part of the lifter engages the top side of the flange l9 and thus there is no contact with the usual fluted edge of the pie crust.

The center of gravity of the plate and its contents comes sufliciently below the axis of the handle to preclude accidental tipping" of the plate laterally, which is an objection in many lifters because of the danger of spilling juices or fillings. The handle gives adequate leverage to enable the operator easily to hold the plate against tipping forwardly or backwardly. No adjustment or manipulation of moving parts is required for The lifter can be applied and removed without any tendency to slide the plate on the oven shelf or other sup-- porting surface, nor is it necessary to insert or remove any part from beneath the bottom of the plate.

While a lifter in the form of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is made primarily for a standard diameter of plate, it is applicable to plates which may vary some what in diameter, because if the flange or rim of the plate is narrower than shown the rearward ends of the portions 15 function as limiting stops. On the other hand, if the inside diameter of the rim, or more accurately the diameter of the upper edge of the conical wall 20 is less than shown in the drawings, then the rearward legs l6 function as the limiting stops. The fact that the plate engaging portions it are of considerable length and the fact that the flange on most plates is of ample width. permits of considerable tolerance of plate diameters without danger of the plate tilting about a transverse axis or otherwise coming out of safe engagement by the lifter.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 10, inclusive, I have shown a modification wherein the spacing of the plate engaging portions is adjustable so that the lifter may be readily adjusted to different diameters of plates. In this form each plate engaging portion 25 is supported by but one leg 26, the leg 26 being formed from a bar bent inwardly at the lower end to form an offset 2'! and bent inwardly at the upper end to form a horizontally extending portion 28 which enters the .adjusting mechanism as a reciprocably mounted rack engaged by a pinion 29. The racks 28 are disposed parallel and in the same horizontal plane and are supported by a frame 30. The frame may conveniently be formed of sheet metal bent to form a pair of spaced parallel grooves 3 l, in which theracks 28 reciprocate, the pinion 29 being disposed between the grooves 3| and at the center of the frame. On the underside of the frame 30 is secured a bracket 32 presenting a rearwardly opening threaded handle socket 33 for detachably receiving the threaded end of a wooden handle 34. A disc 35 may be placed centrally of the frame at the top side thereof and opposite the plate portion of the bracket 32, the disc, bracket, plate and frame being assembled by screws 36. The pinion 29 may be journaled in the disc 35 and the bracket plate 32 and it carries a crank arm 31 at the top side for engagement ries a head portion 38 to space the crank arm 3'! f 7' high enough to clear the heads of the screws 36. The pinion is held against moving upwardly relative to the frame by a bottom washer 39 and retaining screw 46.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the plate engaging portions, instead of being rigidly secured to the offsets 21 from the legs 26, may be mounted with a certain amount of play. This is done by a pivot pin 4| and an auxiliary pin 42 spaced therefrom and working in a slightly oversize slot "$3 in the plate engaging portion 25.

The operation of the adjustable lifter of Figs. 4 to 10, inclusive, is as follows:

The crank 31 is turned as required to bring the plate engaging portions 25 to the proper spacing. The adjustment may be made either by applying the lifter to the plate to ascertain the correct spacing, or by reference to the scale on the upper surface of the rack bars 22 which read against the end of the frame 30. If desired the scale may be placed about the margin of the disc 35 and read against the pointed end of the crank 31.

Once the lifter has been adjusted to the required spacing of the members 25, the lifter is moved forwardly with the portions 25- in a horizontal plane intermediate the bottom of the plate and the flange of the plate until the portions 25 are substantially centered on the diameter of the plate. The lifter is then raised to bring the portions 25 into engagement with the underside of the flange of the plate, and then the plate also is lifted, the operator then tilting the lifter backwardly slightly whereby gravity tends to hold the plate against sliding forwardly. The lost motion permitted by the pin s2 and the slot 43 is sufficient to permit the lifter to adapt itself somewhat to the flange and the side wall of the plate, but the pin 42 and slot 63 do not permit the rearward ends of the portions 25 to swing apart to a distance as great as the diameter of the side wall of the plate immediately beneath the flange. The rearward ends of the portions 25 thus act as abutment stops to prevent backward movement of the plate.

The pivotal movement preferably does permit the forward ends of the portions 25 to move apart farther than this diameter. But with plates where the side walls are inclined, as here shown, it is not essential that the forward ends of the portions 25 be spaced apart by a distance greater than this diameter, because with the conical side wall 29 clearance of the forward ends of portions 25 can be secured in the application of the lifter by lowering the portions 25.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have illustrated a third form of my lifter which is generally similar to that of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, except that the lifter is adapted to plates of a considerable wide range of different diameters without requiring any adjustment of the lifter. Here the spaced plate engaging portions l, which are also preferably slightly curved and closer together at the rearward ends than at their forward ends, are of considerably greater length than in the form of Fig. 1.

At P and P I have indicated in dotted lines the position relative to the lifter which is assumed by a large diameter plate and a smaller diameter plate. Obviously plates of intermediate diameter would assume intermediate positions. It will be seen that the two plates indicated, as well as any plates of intermediate diameter, would have support against tilting forwardly or backwardly comparable with the support in the form of Fig. 1. The angle A in Fig. 11 indicates the angular distance forwardly and rearwardly of the transverse center line of the plate P comparable with the form of Fig. 1 and as shown in Fig. 11 this angle is not less in the support of the plate P Similarly the angle A applied to the smaller plate P in Fig. 11 shows that the angular distance of support of the smaller plate against tilting forwardly or backwardly about a transverse diameter is also not less than in the form of Fig. 1.

With plates of larger diameter adapted to be lifted by the lifter of Fig. 11, the limiting of the rearward movement of the plate relative to the lifter is accomplished by the rearwardly narrowing distance between the supporting portions l5, while with the smallest diameter plate P the limiting is accomplished either by the narrowed spacing of the rearward ends of the portions l5 or by the rearward legs E5, or by both. It will be understood that the method of applying the lifter and carrying the plate thereby is generally similar to that of the form of Fig. 1.

The rearward transverse members 23." which connect the rearward legs IS with the handle it! are preferably obliquely disposed so that the handle may be advanced forwardly to reduce the lever arm of the handle in lifting plates of larger 5 its contents and extending rearwardly longitudi- 20.

nally of the plate, supporting elements for the plate engaging elements including transversely radially extending shanks and legs depending from the outer ends thereof and connected at their lower ends with the plate engaging elements, supporting guideways for the shank portions carried by the handle, rack portions on the shanks, a vertically journalled shaft a pinion on the shaft-engaging the rack portions for simultaneously shifting the shanks to adjust the spacing of the elements to plates of different diameters, and a manually engageable element crank on the shaft for rotating the pinion.

2. A plate lifter comprising spaced apart horizontally disposed plate engaging elements for supportingly engaging the underside of the horizontal flange of a plate at laterally opposite sides thereof, a handle above the level of the plate and its contents and extending rearwardly longitudinally of the plate, supporting elements for 4-0 the plate engaging elements including transversely radially extending shanks and legs depending from the outer ends thereof and connected at their lower ends with the plate engaging elements, the plate engaging elements and their supporting elements being forwardly open for the reception of the plate while the plate engaging elements are pre-set at plate lifting spacing, supporting guideways for the shank por tions carried by the handle, rack portions on the shanks, a pinion engaging the rack portions for simultaneously shifting the shanks to adj ust the spacing of the elements to plates of different diameters, a manually engageable element for rotating the pinion, and an index scale reading 5 between one of the shanks and its guide to indicate the size of plate for which the plate engaging elements are spaced.

3. A plate lifter comprising spaced apart horizontally disposed plate engaging elements for supportingly engaging the underside of the horizontal flange of a plate at laterally opposite sides thereof, a handle above the level of the plate and its contents and extending rearwardly longitudinally of the plate, supporting elements for the plate engaging elements including transversely radially extending shanks and legs depending from the outer ends thereof and connected at their lower ends with the plate engaging elements, the plate engaging elements and their supporting elements being forwardly open for the reception of the plate while the plate engaging elements are pre-set at plate lifting spacing, supporting guideways for the shank portions carried by the handle, rack portions on the shanks, a pinion engaging the rack portions for simultaneously shifting the shanks to adjust the spacing of the elements to plates of different diameters, and a manually engageable element for rotating the pinion, and a scale reading between the lifter and the manually engageable rotary element for indicating the size of plate for which the plate engaging elements are spaced.

4. A plate lifter comprising spaced apart horizontally disposed plate engaging elements for supportingly engaging the underside of the horizontal flange of a plate at laterally opposite sides thereof, a handle above the level of the plate and it contents and extending rearwardly longitudinally of the plate, supporting elements for the plate engaging elements including transversely ing elements being forwardly open for the reception of the plate while the plate engaging elements are pre-set at plate lifting spacing, supporting guideways for the shank portions carried by the handle, rack portions on the shanks, a pinion engaging the rack portions for simultaneously shifting the shanks to adjust the spacing engagement portions to plates of different diameters, and a manually engageable element for rotating the pinion, the plate engaging portions being curved with their rearward ends spaced more i closely than their forward ends for limiting forward movement of the lifter relative to the plate, the connection of each plate engaging element to the lower end of the leg including a pivot permitting movement of the plate engaging element about a vertical axis, and stop means limiting rotation of the plate engaging elements to the order of five degrees.

JOHN J. ETGES. 

